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Friday, December 29, 2017

Real Estate Guide: Centennial Colorado

Centennial Colorado Real Estate Guide

Centennial is a south Denver community of about 110,000 residents popular for its suburban housing, award-winning school districts and outdoor recreation
opportunities. Located just 16 miles south of downtown, Centennial is also attractive for its proximity to the Denver Technological Center, Park
Meadows shopping center and the Cherry Creek State Park. These are just a few of the reasons mentioned in a recent community survey in which Centennial
was rated as a “good” or “excellent” place to live by the majority of respondents. The results also showed that 93 percent agreed Centennial is
a good place to raise kids, and 74 percent agreed that it was also a great place to retire.

And, as a young city that was just recently incorporated in 2001, Centennial is sure to see continued growth and development of its community offerings
in the coming years. Continue reading to find out if Centennial might be a great place for you!

Real Estate in Centennial

Centennial has received a slew of recognition for its real estate climate, including being named “Best City in Colorado for First-Time Homebuyers”
by NerdWallet in 2016 and also by WalletHub in 2015, the “No. 4 Best Place to Live in America” by USA Today in 2015, the “No. 2 Healthiest Housing
Market in Colorado” by SmartAsset in 2017 and the “No. 13 Best Place to Live in America” by Money Magazine in 2016. With all of this attention
it’s no wonder that Realtor.com also reported Centennial’s primary zip code of 80122 as the third “Hottest Zip Code in America” for home sales
in 2015. Needless to say, Centennial housing is in high demand.

Types of Housing in Centennial

There is a variety of housing options in Centennial from apartments and townhomes to subdivisions and spacious lots of land. The median home value
here is about $410,000, a figure that has been on the rise in recent years and is expected to continue as the Denver metropolitan area remains
one of the fastest growing regions in the country. About 80 percent of homes in Centennial are owner-occupied, while 20 percent are rentals. The
average rate for a one-bedroom apartment is around $1,400 per month.

Neighborhoods in Centennial

There are more than 41,000 housing units in Centennial across 29-square-mile area and it is the tenth most populous city in Colorado. Some of the more
affordable neighborhoods include the Knolls, Willow Creek and Piney Creek areas while some of the more exclusive properties can be found in the
Piney Creek Ranch, Chenago and Estancia areas. Other popular neighborhoods include Southglenn, Greenfield and Cherry Knolls.

Raising a Family in Centennial

Centennial is considered to be a very family friendly city thanks to its reasonable cost of living, variety of schooling options and access to parks
and playgrounds. In fact, in 2017 ApartmentList named Centennial as the most family-friendly city in Colorado. The median age of Centennial
residents is about 41 years old, and the average people per household is 2.7, indicating that a lot of young families live in the area.

Schools in Centennial

There are about 74,000 residents enrolled in academic institutions in Centennial, with 12 percent enrolled in preschool programs, 40 percent participating
at the elementary level, 25 percent in high school and 24 percent in college or graduate studies. The city is served by both the Littleton Public
School and Cherry Creek School districts, contributing to about 50 school buildings in the surrounding area. Both public districts have received
numerous awards for their consistently high test scores and enriching athletic programs. In addition, there are several private and charter schools
available. Centennial’s wide variety of schooling options is undoubtedly one of its most attractive qualities for those who choose to live here.

Centennial Commerce

Business in Centennial

Centennial is home to more than 6,100 registered businesses providing more than 60,000 jobs in top industries like educational services, health care,
real estate, finance and retail. Some of the area’s top employers include Comcast, United Healthcare, Oppenheimer Funds, Arrow Electronics, Nordstrom
and US Foods. The city’s unemployment rate is just under three percent and its median household income is around $93,000 per year, partly due to
a skilled workforce in which 54 percent hold college degrees and 15 percent hold graduate degrees.

Commuting from Centennial

Although there are a lot of companies located in Centennial with more re-locating to the area each year, many people commute for work to nearby business
hubs like downtown Denver (about 16 miles away), the Denver Tech Center in Greenwood Village (about four miles away) and the Denver International
Airport (about 30 miles away.) In a recent survey, about 80 percent of Centennial residents reported commuting alone by car and 10 percent reported
that they carpool or use public transportation, most likely via the RTD light rail system with provides several stations in and around Centennial.

The Centennial Lifestyle

Centennial has an abundance of activities and entertainment opportunities from shopping and dining to golfing and pampering. And, if it can’t be found
down south, the city’s unique layout across Interstate 25 (one of the state’s main thoroughfares) makes trips into Denver and its surrounding suburbs
a breeze.

This laid-back ‘burb embraces its 300-plus days of blue skies and sunshine—a Colorado trademark—by offering outdoor access year-round.
Residents can often be found lounging on sun-drenched patios sipping craft beers, strolling shops along outdoor promenades, exploring nearby trails
and gathering in neighborhood parks for community-hosted concerts and events. When the weather isn’t cooperating, there are movie theaters, coffee
shops, libraries and recreation centers to entertain.

Fitness and Recreation

Most Centennial citizens are health-conscious and fitness-focused. According to Livability.com, more than 80 percent of residents maintain a healthy
BMI, engage in regular physical activity and are non-smokers. The city’s unique, south-central location is served by both the South Suburban and
Arapahoe County parks and recreation districts providing endless opportunities for active pursuits, including paved and natural trails, community
parks and playgrounds, creeks, golf courses and protected open space areas.

The 4,200-acre Cherry Creek State Park is located just north of the city featuring trails for biking, jogging and horseback riding, camp sites, a reservoir
for boating and swimming as well as an enclosed (yet expansive) dog park. The Parker Jordan Centennial Open Space encompasses the newest portion
of the Cherry Creek regional trail, a paved bike path that extends from downtown Denver to Castlewood Canyon State Park in Castle Rock, located
20 miles southwest of Centennial.

Located in the heart of town, adjacent to the city’s civic center, the 11-acre Centennial Center Park is the city’s crown jewel. Unveiled in 2012,
the development features an amphitheater for outdoor concerts, native plant landscaping, picnic areas and an award-winning playground boasting
a rock climbing wall, a “splash pad” waterpark and enrichment activities for all ages.

Other notable recreational areas include the Willow Creek and Foxridge open spaces, Dove Valley and Parker Jordan parks and the Saddlerock and Inverness
golf clubs.

Shopping and Dining

The Streets at Southglenn is Centennial’s shopping, dining and entertainment epicenter housing more than 30 retail stores, 20 restaurants and bars,
a movie theater and a luxury apartment complex. Visitors can spend a whole day browsing a range of shops including well-known apparel retailers
like Old Navy and H&M, boutiques, department stores like Macy’s and Marshall’s and specialty stores for jewelry and housewares. Beauty and
wellness services are also available like day spas, hair and nail salons. The area is also a popular place to catch a movie at the 14-screen theater
and for community events like live music, markets and holiday festivities like carriage rides and ice skating.

Southglenn is also home to a variety of restaurants offering everything from fast-casual concepts like Smashburger and Qdoba to upscale eateries like
Ivy at the Glenn. Local favorites are also represented including the ever-popular brunch spot, Snooze. Several bars, coffee shops and markets are
also available, including a Whole Foods grocery store.

Another popular area is the Centennial Promenade, located adjacent to the Park Meadows Mall, featuring stores like REI, Toys R Us and Guitar Center
and bars and restaurants like Rock Bottom Brewery, Jason’s Deli and Buffalo Wild Wings. Also nearby is Colorado’s first IKEA superstore, an international
favorite for furniture, home design and furnishings (its in-store cafeteria serving Swedish treats like meatballs and desserts also has a cult-like
following.)

Breweries in Centennial

Centennial has an impressive collection of craft breweries including Rock Bottom Brewery, Blue Spruce Brewery, Halfpenny Brewing, Resolute Brewery,
Two22 Brew and Lost Highway Brewing Company. The city even created an interactive guide to help visitors navigate the local brewing scene, an innovative
features which is not only great for residents and locals, but provide a popular attraction for tourists as well.

Community Events

Centennial is a sociable community and the city plans and hosts a variety of events throughout the year to bring neighbors together. Many events are
held at the Centennial Center Park, like an annual Colorado Chile and Salsa festival, Centennial Under the Stars concert series, summer movie nights
and a chalk art festival and a holiday light display. Other events are held at the Streets of Southglenn, like concerts, farmers markets and a
holiday ice skating rink.

As you can see, Centennial already has a lot to offer as a great place to work, live and spend time with family. It will be exciting to watch this
vibrant, young city grow in the coming years as it continues to develop its services and amenities.